At the top of the Premier League table, after two days in the league, in addition to defending champions Manchester City, is Arsenal. The Gunners are off to a storming start, having already sent out a few signals during pre-season, in which only victories came, including a resounding 4-0 win over their cousins Chelsea. Mikel Arteta’s men seem to be bursting with health, although the value of the opponents they have met so far (Crystal Palace and Leicester) advises against any flights of fancy.
Six goals scored, only two conceded, six total points in 180 minutes: those are the numbers so far for Xhaka and co. But if it is true that the defence was a little shaky last Saturday against the Foxes, one cannot overlook the incredible impact that Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal’s real signing, is having. The former City striker, perhaps let go too hastily by Pep Guardiola, has immediately settled into the role. And, in addition to his valuable work in the construction phase, thanks to his ability to move between tight spaces, he is relentless in the scoring phase: against Leicester he scored his first double in the shirt of the London club, to which he is bound for the next five years.
Arteta has no limits for now: this year there is also Europe in the middle, but the real goal in the league is fourth place, which escaped at the photo finish last season. The Gunners visit newly-promoted Bournemouth, fresh from a 4-0 thrashing by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. It was a painless defeat, as the Cherries had made their debut with a surprising 2-0 victory over Aston Villa.
Ryan Christie ©️Ansafoto
The Prediction
Transfer that may conceal some treachery for Arsenal, although the performance against City showed that Bournemouth are far from impregnable at the back. At home, the Cherries scalped Aston Villa, and are unlikely to do so against the Gunners, who appeared to be in great form. Their victory is highly probable in a match in which the guests could finish ahead in both halves of the game.
Bournemouth-Arsenal line-ups
BOURNEMOUTH (3-4-3): Travers; Lerma, Senesi, Kelly; Smith, Cook, Billing, Zemura; Tavernier, Moore, Solanke.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Thomas, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Gabriel Jesus.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 0-2
